Top Joint on Middle finger won't bend
mdas...@gmail.com
All,
I am in the very beginning stages of learning the guitar. One
limitation I have is that my top joint (close to my fingernail) on my
middle finger will not bend due to a past break. While I can bend the
middle joint the top one will not bend.
Does anyone think that this limitation will keep me from being a great
guitar player? Picking individual strings has not been a problem at
all, but strumming chords cleanly is a bit of a problem. I know that
this is a common beginners problem but am concerned that this lack of
flexibility will keep me from consitently being able to quickly and
cleanly hit songs involving complicated chord progressions. Most
people say to keep you fingers at a 90 degree angle relative to the
strings but because of the top joint not bending, my middle finger
will never be at that angle without compensating by dropping my
wrist. I have sought the advice of my uncle and a guy at the guitar
shop and both said I can work around it. After today's first lesson I
am a little frustrated and I am hoping it is simply frustration due to
me being a beginner not because I have a lame joint... Any feed back
would be greatful. Thanks
MIke
Rufus
Right hand, or left hand? And I'm assuming you play right handed?..so
you're talking about your left hand?...
--
- Rufus
mdas...@gmail.com
finger. I am trying to hit the C chord and I keep hitting the string
in back. I am considering switching to left handed since I am so early
into it. Is that a bad idea?
On Dec 30, 11:57 pm, Rufus <sroll...@mchsi.com> wrote:
> - Rufus- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Alai
news:9e1b44ab-40b6-4179...@z11g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
I am Right handed so it is my left hand that has the messed up
finger. I am trying to hit the C chord and I keep hitting the string
in back. I am considering switching to left handed since I am so early
into it. Is that a bad idea?
I think that's not a bad idea at all. Some people I knew who were
right-handed and played left-handed(fretting with right hand) instead(felt
right to them). If you feel like you're not progressing at all due to this
problem, then switching should be a good alternative, since flatpicking
wouldn't involve middle finger much if at all.
Rufus
play guitar, throw, etc. right handed...so yeah - unless you are truly
ambidextrous I'd stick to doing things the way you are.
How recent is your break? I broke the ring finger on my left hand
cleanly through just below the middle joint during my grade school
years, and I know it can take time to regain the dexterity. I spent
some time squeezing a tennis ball as therapy. I also used to
force-stretch my left hand in spread when I was first starting out so I
could span 6 frets to play the blues...something I need to start doing
again...
If you can move the joint at all, it should come in time I'd think. In
the meantime, if the tip of your finger is wide enough, you can learn to
fret a double stop with one fingertip - this is the way I often play
minor barre chords - using just my ring finger instead of the ring and
pinky, or just play a barred C instead of the open chord until you can
get your dexterity to where you want it.
Or...you could be real tricky and cheat it by playing the C at the 3rd
fret and E at the second fret like in the open chord, and then stretch
your pinky to the octave C at the 5th fret on the G sting - strum four
strings from the open low E to the C at the 5th fret and that sounds
pretty pleasing...a shade darker, but like an open C. You can let your
pinky damp the B string and strike the open high E (1st string) and it
brightens up a bit - that's just double octaves on C and E (1st and
3rd), minus the 5th.
What will happen is that your dexterity (or lack of it) will eventually
determine a "style" for you - that doesn't mean you can't be a "great"
player. You'll just develop a voice that is your own.
I'm curious...if open C is difficult, how are you with open F?..same
problem, or easier?
--
- Rufus
DavidAsh76
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> - Show quoted text -
The break was about 5years ago and the problem is that initially I let
the break heal on its own and then let a doctor talk me into re-
breaking it and putting a pin into it and letting it heal again as
straight as possible. Well it deal heal, straight as a board. After
the pin was removed the top joint wouldn't move and after about a
month or so of physical therapy I gave up on trying to make it move.
Didn't know I would decide to pick up the guitar later on. Now that I
am trying to learn, I am frustrated because of the middle finger's
lack of ability to bend at the top joint to angle correctly to press
one string at a time withouth hitting other strings. If I read your
post right Rufus, are you saying to simply play both 4th and 5 th
strings in the C cord with my middle finger and simply leave the ring
finger out of the equation? I will try it an see how it goes. Haven't
gotten to the F-chord yet but will go look it up and try it an then
get back with you.
I am a little cautious about switching to Left handed as others have
stated that the soul of your sound comes from your finger picking and
that should be done with your dominant hand. I am literally in my
second day, using the Learn and Master the guitar dvd set by Steve
Krentz to get me going as I want to learn the theory and everything
(just how I am wired) so that I can be as versatile as possible in the
future. I actually went back last night and was able to hit the C
chord cleanly both the individual strings (2nd 4th ,5th) and the chord
itself but it took a lot of careful placement of my fingers and
wrist. Maybe there is hope but I know that I have to get a lot more
flexible as I can't see any song allowing me 15-seconds to switch
between chords.
Rufus
Open F is the same "shape" as C, but starting with your ring finger one
string closer to your palm - what I'm thinking is that even though it's
the same "shape" the geometry will be different for your hand - don't
know if it will be easier or worse, but the "posture" of your hand will
be similar.
> I am a little cautious about switching to Left handed as others have
> stated that the soul of your sound comes from your finger picking and
> that should be done with your dominant hand. I am literally in my
> second day, using the Learn and Master the guitar dvd set by Steve
> Krentz to get me going as I want to learn the theory and everything
> (just how I am wired) so that I can be as versatile as possible in the
> future. I actually went back last night and was able to hit the C
> chord cleanly both the individual strings (2nd 4th ,5th) and the chord
> itself but it took a lot of careful placement of my fingers and
> wrist. Maybe there is hope but I know that I have to get a lot more
> flexible as I can't see any song allowing me 15-seconds to switch
> between chords.
And that's the sort of thing I was getting at about "style". If you're
interested in finger style, then you'll want to develop those right hand
skills. You'll find out that there's lots of ways to play any chord,
and that what you will eventually do is choose ways hat "fit your
fingers". As you learn more chords and forms (like barre chords) you'll
start to see relations in the fingering, and hear how differing
fingerings have different "voices", but are still the same chord.
Also keep doing what you're doing - experimenting with how you hold the
guitar, and where and how you grab the neck - higher, lower, closer to
you, farther away - until you find positioning that suits your range of
motion and ability to move.
After you have a few more chords in your fingers, try different guitars
- try a Fender with a curved fretboard and try a Gibson with a flat
fretboard; thin narrow neck vs wide fat neck...you may find that the
neck geometry can help or hinder you, I know it makes a difference to my
hands (I can develop some pain playing a curved fretboard for long
periods). Make the guitar fit you if and when you can.
Given that you've only been at it a few days, I'd say you're figuring
things out and making nice progress.
--
- Rufus
DavidAsh76
Awesome feedback Rufus. Much appreciated. I really believe you know
what you are talking about, as I went to Evans Music City in Houston
and signed up for lessons (4 half hour at 18 bucks a pop) and in
doing so, I spoke in depth with my instructor and he basically said
what you stated. Immediately he showed me a different way to hold the
guitar ( on the left leg which made the guitar more vertical) and I
could hit the chord a lot better. Then he showed me how to play it
using my pinky and ring finger and totally taking my middle finger
out. This also worked pretty well. Basically he said that whatever
my weakness or difference is can be turned around and made into a
strength and also something that will make my style unique
eventually. He went to tell me about an old school guy (can't
remember the name) who was in a fire and his fingers wound up being
almost frozen or locked in to certain places and because of it, he
could only use two fingers and even with this limitation he could
still out play a lot of normal players and the normal players couldn't
imitate his style very well because they had to many funcitoning
fingers. So all in all, I have hope and look forward to the
challenge. My instructor also said that my stiff top joint on my
middle finger could help me bend chords better than most people since
that finger is so straight and stiff from the top half of the
finger.
I appreciate the post Rufus. Have a great New Year.
Mike
Rufus
Thank you - and I'll add another story to the mix. When I was in
college back in Illinois, my roommate followed a band called Off
Broadway. I think they even released an album or two...anyway, their
lead player was an amputee - he was missing his whole right hand. He
rocked.
Keep it going, man. Happy New Year.
--
- Rufus
David Raleigh Arnold
If you intend to play "classical", go left handed, to take less of a
hit. If you stick with a pick, just do what you can to compensate.
Django Reinhardt did ok, didn't he? daveA
--
Playing "as written" is paying attention, not being a fanatic.
DGT: The only exercises best for all guitarists. Visit
http://www.openguitar.com/dynamic.html. Original easy solos at:
http://www.openguitar.com. :::=={_o) David Raleigh Arnold
DavidAsh76
What is the difference between classical and picking? Why would I
take if I was playing classical versus picking if the messed up
finger is on my fretting hand? This is interesting to me. Thanks for
responding in advance.
DavidAsh76
Sorry my question is why would I take a hit trying to play jazz/
classical vs picking, if the finger that is limited is on my
fretting hand? Thanks
David Raleigh Arnold
Jass/classical vs picking? What is that?
If you are playing classical or finger style music that is written out,
it is written for a fully functional fretting hand, so that is what you
must have. It is possible to compensate in the other hand. OTOH if you
are playing jazz, you are improvising and you can limit your fretting
hand to what works for you, as Django did. Django had far more serious
problems with that than you. daveA